TOPEKA, KS — Several Red Robin employees were robbed at gunpoint early Sunday morning. 36-year-old Travis Coffman was booked into the Shawnee County Jail just before 5 Sunday morning for aggravated robbery. 23-year-old Derick Crawford was also booked into the jail, at about 6:30 Sunday morning for the same offense.

It is business as usual Sunday at Red Robin, but just hours earlier four employees at the Red Robin near 6th and Wanamaker in Topeka had a scary end to their work day.

Police say two men forced their way in with a gun while one employee was smoking on the patio. The two suspects came through the patio and forced employees back inside at gun point.

“Took them back into the office and asked them to give them whatever money they had and then they left,” said Michael Hockenberger.

No one was injured during the robbery, and General Manager, Michael Hockenberger, says the restaurant has several safety measures in place already.

“We do have some security alarms they can trigger throughout the building, panic alarms. We are reviewing our policies to make sure that we are even more safe than we have been so that hopefully nobody gets put in this situation again,” said Hockenberger.

Some customers say they are shocked the Red Robin was robbed.

“I had my family there, it’s very concerning. We could have been there when it happened,” said Jason Wright.

“It won’t change my habits with Red Robin, cause this is pretty much a pretty good area, it’s not that bad of an area but it still makes you aware of the fact that you’ve got to watch where you go around here,” said Keith Watson.

TPD says they found the two men less than a half hour later, driving near 6th and Lincoln.
Hockenberger says he is grateful for the quick work by police.

“The bottom line is that people are one of our most important priorities whether they’re coming in to dine in our restaurant or the people working for us, and something like this its definitely not worth people getting hurt over,” said Hockenberger.

No names are being released right now, but police say all of the suspects were arrested at the scene and one of the victims got their stolen items back. Police say the suspects are in custody and they are not looking for anyone else at this time.